History of Springfield, Illinois, its attractions as a home and advantages for business, manufacturing, etc. Pub. under the auspices of the Springfield board of trade, by J. C. Power.

ITS ADVANTAGES FOR MANUFACTURING. 97
ber, Mr. Swannell purchased the interest used, this season, 210,000 pounds of iron,
of Mr. Ross, and the firm of Converse & and nearly 150,000 feet of lumber. Three
Swannell then began manufacturing for general agents are constantly employed,
J. O. Sloan. This firm manufactured, in besides a whole army of local agents.
1870, one thousand machines, which were Their manufacturing season commences
readily disposed of, and this season they August 1st, and continues until April
have made and sold over two thousand, 15th. The sales of the firm, comprised
which enormous number was not sufficient in this year, foot up over $100,000, and
to supply the demand. The proprietors will be doubled next season. It has been
think it will take five thousand to meet impossible, heretofore, to supply the dethe wants next year, and they are fully mand, but in future they will be found
confident that that number can be in- equal to the emergency.
creased each year. They have many or- The citizens of Springfield will do well
ders left over and unfilled, having re- to visit this establishment, and see what
ceived them too late to fill them, but is being done in their midst. They will
they will be fully prepared to meet the see capital and labor here joined hand in
demand next year. These machines are hand, and the practical workings thereof
now sold in nine States, and but a few being the financial benefit of the city at
weeks ago they forwarded a carload to large. Mr. Converse has charge of the
the State of Virginia. They are now in- mechanical department, Mr. Sloan is sutroduced and used extensively where two perintendent of the sales department, and
years ago a corn planter was entirely un- Mr. Winm. P. Grimsley is cashier.
known. They are now the best and most SPRINGFIELD WATCH COMPANY.
favorite machine in use. This company was organized under
Messrs. Converse & Swannell have the general laws of Illinois, for the goverected very extensive works on West ernment of incorporated companies, Jan.
Jefferson street, for manufacturing these 26, 1870, with a capital stock of one
machines, and are almost daily spreading hundred thousand dollars. Hon. John
their limits as their business grows and T. Stuart was elected President; Col.
increases. They are determined to keep John Williams, Vice President; George
up with the demands made upon them, N. Black, Treasurer, and W. B. Mtiller,
and their energy and enterprise, in prose- Secretary.
cuting to a successful termination this A large room was secured over Messrs.
business, is well worthy the imitation of Berryman & Rippon's Machine shop, and
our citizens and men of capital. stocked with lathes and planers from the
They design erecting at once a three works of Pratt, Whitney & Co., Hartstory brick building, forty feet front and ford, Conn., together with tools from
one hundred feet deep, which will cost various other manufacturers.
nearly eight thousand dollars. It will On the first of May, ten or twelve exbe used as an office, sales rooms, and ship- perienced artisans-who were employed
ping department. The buildings now in the first enterprise of making watches
erected are valued at $15,000, and are ar- in this country by machinery, at Walranged with especial reference to the tham, Mass., and with other companies
manufacture of the machines. Messrs. in the East, and who were the principal
Converse & Swannell employ, during the operators in the National Watch Factory
manufacturing season, eighty-seven men, in this State, from its commencement to
machinists, wood workmen, moulders and the beginning of the present enterpriseblacksmiths. Their average pay roll commenced making tools here for the
amounted to $1000 per week. They also manufacture of Watches.